Garment box



Oct. 9, 1962 RICHER 3,057,461

GARMENT BOX Filed May 26, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 .A M20 36 /.9 L 3/ 23 7a 9 29 27 25 /N VE N TOP QM W PATENT AGENT Oct. 9, 1962 l. RICHER I3,057,461

GARMENT BOX Filed May 26, 1960 s Sheets-Sheet z r. 59 w -47 f 65 67 491- 49 g 62 H Ni 57 22; M! I! ll M525 fiIHHk 59.8 59.9 59.10

-I! n n n IN VEN TOR Ir why RIC/ ER MTENT AGENT Oct. 9, 1962 RICHER3,057,461

GARMENT, BOX

Filed May 26, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 .90 Z! 5 90 207 INVENTOR IrvingR/C'l-IER BYQWWMN/ I PATENT AGENT United States Patent Ofifice 3,057,461Patented Oct. 9, 1962 3,057,461 GARMENT BOX Irving Richer, 7489 PineviewRoad, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Filed May 26, 1960, Ser. No. 32,049 27Claims. (Cl. 206-4) The present invention relates to shipping containersor garment boxes made of corrugated fibreboard, and more particularly toa new and improved manner of suspending garments in such a box.

In conventional shipping containers or garment boxes of the type inwhich a transversely extending suspension bar for hangers is supportedby a pair of opposed side walls of the box, the bar is always supportedon the top edge of said opposed side walls; for example, Canadian Patent538,441, my own US. Patent No. 2,827,160 and my co-pending patentapplications Serial Nos. 7,787, and 7,915, both filed February 10, 1960,describe such arrangement.

I have now found that the resistance to collapse of the side walls andbar under impact is greatly increased when the suspension bar is restingand is supported by the side walls at points spaced downwardly from thetop edge of said side walls.

Accordingly, the main object of the present invention resides in theprovision of a garment box having a greatly improved resistance toimpact.

A very important object of the present invention resides in the mannerof supporting a hanger bar on the side walls of a container in a planebelow the level of the top edges of the container side walls by means ofthe bar passing through slits made in the upper edges of said containerside walls and having no part straddling or overlying said top edges.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a garmentbox having a hanger suspension bar which is of simplified constructionand facilitates suspending of the hangers thereon.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of .asuspension bar for a garment box made of fibreboard material andreinforced by a rigid unit made of metal, wood, or the like.

Yet another important object of the present invention resides in amodification specially designed for light weight garments.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of asuspension bar provided with means for positively locking the hangerhooks in position.

Yet another important object of the present invention resides in theprovision of a hanger bar which can be sold in blank form and readilyand easily folded by the user into bar form.

The foregoing and other important objects of the present invention willbecome more apparent during the following disclosure, and by referringto the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partially cut away perspective view of a garment box withone embodiment of the suspension bar;

FIGURE 2 is a partial cross-section of the assembled bar and box;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-section of a second embodiment of the hanger barprovided with a hanger locking flap;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-section of the hanger bar of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the blank for making the bar of FIGURES 1 and4;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-section of a third embodiment of the bar;

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of the blank for making the bar of FIGURE 6;

FIGURES 8 to 13 are cross-sections of additional embodiments of thehanger bar;

FIGURE 14 is a partial exploded perspective view of a modified box withthe hanger bar of FIGURES 6 and 7;

FIGURE 15 is a partial perspective view showing how the blank of FIGURE7 is folded to form the bar of FIGURE 14;

FIGURE 16 is a top partial plan view of the box of FIGURE 1 providedwith still another embodiment of the suspension bar of the invention;

FIGURE 17 is a perspective view of the bar of FIG- URE 16, one end beingshown partially folded;

FIGURE 18 is a plan view of the blank for making the bar of FIGURE 17;

FIGURE 19 is a partial perspective view of the partially folded blank;

FIGURE 20 is a cross-section through the center of the bar of FIGURE 17;and

FIGURE 21 is a partial side elevation of the same bar, the outer flapsbeing partially folded.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in which like referencecharacters indicate like elements throughout, reference character Bindicates a garment shipping container entirely made of corrugatedfibreboard and comprising a pair of opposed side walls 1, a back wall 2and a bottom 3. The front of the box may be closed in any manner desiredand may have for instance a front wall 4, partially shown.

In accordance with the invention, it is essential that a pair of slits 5be made in the top portion of the side walls 1 in registeringrelationship, said slits downwardly extending from the top edge 6 ofside walls 1.

A wing forming a supporting channel member C and closure flap 10 isintegrally connected to side walls 1 by the folded line formed at thetop edge 6 of said side walls 1. Channel member C is formed by leg 7,double fold line 8 and leg 9, the closure flap 10 being connected to leg9 by fold line 11. Each leg 9 is provided with a slit 12 registeringwith the contiguous slit 5. Slits 5 and 12 extend downwardly to thebottom 13 of the channel defined by double fold line 8.

The suspension bar 14, shown in FIGURE 1, is made from the blank shownin FIGURE 5; this blank consists of corrugated fibreboard of generallyrectangular shape provided with longitudinally extending fold lines 15,the spacing of which gradually increases to define flanges 16, 17, 18,19, 20, 21 and 22 of gradually increasing width with intervening webs23, 24-, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29, also of increasing width but narrowerthan the flanges. Flanges 16, 20 .and 22 are provided with integrallyconnected flaps 30, 31 and 32 at both ends of said flanges connectedalong transverse fold lines 33, 34 and 35 respectively which are spacedfrom the ends of the flanges devoid of flaps.

The blank of FIGURE 5 is folded over itself about the longitudinal foldlines 15, 'such as to present the crosssection, shown in FIGURE 4, theflange 16 being inside and the web 29 being outside; thus the blankforms the bar '14 of substantially rectangular cross section and ofelongated shape from the ends of which project the flaps 30, 31 and 32which are inserted on edge through the registering slit-s 5 and 12 ofbox B; the flaps are contiguous up to the transverse fold lines 33 to 35and are then bent or folded at substantially right angles with one flapon one side, and the remaining flaps on the opposite side, such thatsaid flaps rest at their bottom edge mainly on the bottom 13 ofexternally disposed channel C and if desired partially on the bottom ofthe slits 5 and 12.

Because flaps 30, 31 and 32 are solely connected to the bar at thetransverse fold lines 33 to 35 and are otherwise free of any connectionto the main body of the bar, the

bar is thus supported at points spaced downwardly from the top edges 6of the box, namely, at the bottom of the channel C and partially at thebottom of slits and 12. Hanger hooks H can be easily suspended on thebar which is of rectangular section with the hook overlying the top webof the bar. When the garments and hanger hooks have been placed withinthe box, the closure flaps 10 are then folded back over the hangers, asshown in FIG- URE 2, and the closure flap 36 from the back wall 2 isfolded over closure flaps 10. The box can be stapled, gummed, taped orstrapped to maintain the same in closed position.

The flaps of the suspension bar can be left free within the supportingchannel C, or be stapled by staples 37 passing through flaps 30, 31 and32 and through legs 7 and top portion of side walls 1 of the box.

Because of the multi-layer construction of the bar 14, the latter has anoverall thickness greater than the thickness of the contiguous flaps 30,31 and 32, thus the bar has resistance to laterally exerted forces.

The downward pressure of the weight of the garment suspended on the bar14 is directly supported by the bottom 13 of the channel C; theresisting forces exerted are distributed through leg 7 to a substantiallength of the top edge 6 of the side wall, thereby considerablyimproving resistance to impact.

Staples 37 when used, positively prevent the flaps 30, 31 and 32 fromsliding inwardly through the slits, should the bar partially collapseunder impact.

The suspension bar can be made in accordance with various modificationsall characterised by the fact that they have freely extending flaps forinsertion through slits 5 and 12 and for folding outwardly at theexterior of the side wall and being also characterised by the fact thatthere are no parts of the bar directly resting on the top edges 6 of theside walls.

FIGURES 6, 7 and 14 show a bar 14' of symmetrical construction. Theblank, shown in FIGURE 7, is of generally rectangular shape havinglongitudinally extending fold lines 40 defining two symmetrical portionson each side of the central fold lines and constituted by flanges 41, 42and 43, central web 44 and webs 45 and 46. Flaps 47 and 48 dependrespectively from flanges 42 and 43 on both sides of the central web 44,and are integrally connected to their associated flanges by transversefold lines 49. The blank of FIGURE 7 is folded inwardly in accordancewith the arrows, as shown in FIGURE 15, starting from the outsideflanges 43, so as to form a bar, the cross-section of which is shown inFIGURE 6, such that flaps 47 and 48 depend from the four contiguousinternal layers formed by flanges 42 and 43, thus the flaps can befolded about their transverse fold lines 49 at right angles to the longaxis of the bar in two oppositely directed pairs, as shown in FIGURE 14.This bar can thus be inserted in slits 5 and 12 of the box B of FIGURE1, to rest at the bottom 13 of the channel C.

For heavy garments, an inverted metal channel 50 can be easily insertedjust underneath the central web 44 and in direct contact with the insideof flanges 41, as shown in FIGURE 6, to considerably reinforce thecorrugated fibreboard bar 14'. The channel can be replaced by an anglebar, such as angle bar 71 of FIGURE 13, if so desired. A metal channelor angle bar can be used also in combination with any of the bars of theinvention. The metal channel 50 can be also fitted on top of thefibreboard bar as shown at 59 in FIGURE 8; this applies for any bar ofthe invention, and will hold the flanges of the bar together.

FIGURE 3 is a cross section of a bar 51 made from a blank to provide arectangular hollow bar, each of the contiguous flanges 52 and 53 ofwhich are provided with end flaps at both ends thereof. The bar may beleft hollow or be provided with a reinforcing wooden bar 54 insertedtherethrough. The top web 55 is conveniently extended, as shown at 56,and provided with a longitudinally extending slot 57 adjacent one sideof the bar for receiving the hook of hanger hooks H. The extension 56 isintegrally connected to a hook locking flap 58 which will be maintainedon the top of the hook to prevent disengagement of the same from the bar51 being held downwardly by the closure of the box. Instead of thewooden bar 54, a metal channel 50 or an angle bar 71 may be used withthe bar of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 8 shows a cross section of another modification of the suspensionbar made from one blank provided with longitudinally extending foldlines and wound over itself to provide a rectangular cross section. Inthis case, the end flaps can depend from the two contiguous flanges 60and 61 or from two or more of the contiguous flanges 62, 63 and 64.

FIGURE 9 shows a cross section of a bar 65 which is preferably made ofsheet metal providing two contiguous flanges 66 forming an inverted Uand each flange having at both ends thereof an end flap bent at rightangles. This bar 65 may be made also of fibreboard for supporting lightweight garments.

FIGURE 10 is a cross section of a suspension bar 67, of generallyrectangular cross section and hollow and wherein the three contiguousflanges 68, 68', 69 are provided with end flaps. A channel or angle ironcan be inserted within said bar or a wooden bar 54.

FIGURE 11 shows a bar 70 of triangular cross section and which may beprovided with an angle bar 71 made of metal. In this case, the end flapsdepend from the ends of two or three of the contiguous flanges 72, 73and 74.

FIGURE 12 shows a suspension bar 75 of triangular cross section made ofcorrugated fibreboard and reinforced by angle iron 76. The end flapsdepend from the four contiguous flanges 77 and 78 which aresymmetrically arranged at the center of the bar.

FIGURE 13 shows a cross section of another bar 81 made of corrugatedfibreboard of generally rectangular cross section and with the internalflanges folded in accordion like fashion. The end flaps depend from thefour internal flanges and additional flaps might also depend from theexternal flanges.

If desired, an angle bar 71 or a channel metal bar 50 may be insertedthrough the unit to further reinforce the same.

FIGURES 16 to 21 inclusive show another embodiment of the suspension barin accordance with the invention. The blank for the bar 84 is shown inFIGURE 18 and consists of a generally rectangular piece of corrugatedfibreboard provided with longitudinally extending spaced parallel foldlines 85 and transverse fold lines 86 near the ends of the blank.Inclined slits 87 are made in the blank starting from the junction ofthe outermost fold lines 85 and transverse fold lines 86 and inwardlydirected to open at the outer longitudinal edges of the blank. The foldlines define two central flanges 88 and outer flanges 89 and 90 withintervening webs, central flaps 91 separate from each other by a slitand outer flaps 92 each provided with a bevel extension 93 inwardly offold lines 86.

The blank is folded, as shown in FIGURE 19, along the longitudinal foldlines 85 by winding the blank over itself and disposing the flange 89inwardly and Wrapping the remaining flanges around the same so that theoutermost concentric flanges 88 and 90 and their interconnecting top webform an inverted channel member encasing the remainder of the flangesand webs as clearly shown in FIGURE 20. The flaps 91 are then bent atright angles to the main part of the bar along transverse fold l1nes 86so as to extend in opposite directions on each side of the main body ofthe bar and in a transverse plane with respect to said body. Finally,the flaps 92 are bent down about the extensions of the fold lines 85connecting flaps 9.1 and 92 and laid flat against the outer faces offlaps 91 and stapled thereto by means of staples 94. Thus, the bevelextensions 93 overlap each other as clearly shown in FIGURE 17, and asstaples 94 pass through both the overlapping extensions 93, rigidsecuring and interlocking of the oppositely directed flaps is obtainedso as to resist upward pressure exerted at the ends of said flaps.

Preferably, a metal channel member 95 is fitted over the top web andoutermost flanges 88 and 90 along the whole length of the bar toreinforce the latter and hold its flanges together.

When seen in plan view, the bar has a double T-shape formation with acentral leg and transverse end legs. This bar is inserted in the slitsmade at the upper edges of the side walls of a box 96 similar to the boxof FIG- URE 1, the box 96 being provided with side walls 97 which areslit at their top edge and which have depending wings 98 forming achannel having a bottom corresponding to bottom 13 of FIGURE 1, and onwhich rest the bottom edges of the flaps 9'1, 92 of the suspension bar84. The box 96 may be provided with closure flaps 99 corresponding toclosure flaps 36 of FIGURE 1.

The suspension bar 34 can also be used in association with a box such asthat of FIGURE 14 whereby the end flaps 91, 92, will extend on theoutside of the side Walls of the box and the ends of the central legwill rest directly in the bottom of the slits 83.

It is to be noted that the flaps 91 and 92 when partially folded, asshown in FIGURE 21, with the flaps 92 stapled together, form an invertedU-shaped member transversely extending with respect to the main leg ofthe bar and adapted to straddle the top edge portion of the side wallsof the box, in this case no slit would be required to be made in saidsidewalls.

The suspension bar 84 has a rectangular cross sectional shape and theouter flanges form an inverted channel encasing the remainder of theflanges to form a rigid bar; because of the interlocking of flaps 92 byoverlapping bevel extensions 93, the transverse end legs of the bar arevery rigid and will not tend to open up under load, thus the bar 84 canbe used for heavy weight garments, especially when provided with themetal channel 95.

Any one of the several embodiments of the suspension bar in accordancewith the invention may be used in association with the box B, of FIGURE1, and also in as sociation with the box B illustrated in FIGURE 14. Theside walls 1 of said box B have a top edge 6 from which depend flaps 82which are turned inwardly and extend downwardly within the box. The topportion of side walls 1 and flaps 82 are provided with registering slits83 for receiving the end flaps of any one of the suspension bars. Inthis embodiment, the bar is directly supported at the bottom of theslits 83 which forms a sufliciently strong support for light weightgarments. Here again the bar is not supported by the top edge 6' of theside walls 1'.

Any one of the suspension bars may be inserted in the slits of box B orB and their end flaps left loose within channel C or stapled to the box.In the case of box B, the end flaps may be stapled or taped to theoutside of the box.

Any one of the bars described provide for ease in suspending the hangerhooks, the latter overlying the bar, as clearly shown in FIGURE 3. I

All the hanger bars have the common feature of having end flaps disposedin a vertical plane, and preferably contiguous, and inserted within thenarrow slits at the top portion of the box side Walls, said end flapsbeing adapted to be folded along the outside of the side walls of thebox and in oppositely extending directions on both sides of the slits.In the case of the box B the weight of the garments is mainly supportedby the bottom of the channel C and partially by the bottom of the slits.In the case of box B, the weight is entirely supported at the bottom ofthe slits. In all cases, no part of the suspension bar rests on the topedge of the side Walls.

Thus, although little reference has been made to metal hanger bars inthe foregoing description, it should be noted that the principleaccording to the present invention of supporting the hanger bar in aplane below the top edges of the container side walls can apply to anytype of hanger bars having no part overlying said top edges.

The suspension bars of the invention are held together either throughtheir insertion into the slits of the side Walls, or by adhesive tapeWound around the same, or by the channel bar 59 of FIGURE 8 when such abar is used.

All the bars of the present invention have longitudinal flanges andintervening webs which are wound over themselves such that the outermostconcentric flanges and webs form an inverted generally channel shapedmember which encases the remainder of the flanges and webs to form avery rigid bar even When entirely made of corrugated fibreboard. Forextra strength the corrugated fibreboard bar is combined with areinforcing member, namely members 50, 54, 59, 71, 76 or as describedhereinabove.

While preferred embodiments in accordance with the present inventionhave been illustrated and described, it is understood that variousmodifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit andscope of th appended claims. 1

What I claim is:

1. A suspension bar made of corrugated fibreboard for supporting garmenthangers in a garment box, said bar adapted to be supported by a pair ofopposed side walls of a garment box, said bar constituted by a pluralityof elongated flanges integrally united along longitudinal fold lines byintervening elongated coextensive webs, said flanges and Webs foldedabout said fold lines to form an exterior tubular envelope encasing andholding together the remaining flanges disposed therein, said Webs andflanges adapted to extend in a horizontal and in a vertical planerespectively ot confer rigidity to said bar both in a horizontal and ina vertical plane, and flaps integrally united to said flanges alongtransverse fold lines at each end of said bar, and folded atsubstantially right angles to said bar, being oppositely directed andlying in a trans verse plane With respect to said bar.

2. A suspension bar as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flanges providedwith said flaps are contiguous.

3. A suspension bar for supporting garment hangers in a garment box,said bar adapted to be supported by a pair of opposed side walls of agarment box, said bar constituted by a plurality of elongated flangesand intermediate elongated webs united and folded along longitudinalfold lines, and flaps integrally united to said flanges along transversefold lines at each end of said bar, and folded at substantially rightangles to said bar being oppositely directed and lying in a transverseplane with respect to said bar, said flanges lying side by side and saidwebs disposed transversely to said flanges, whereby said bar has athickness greater than the total thickness of said flaps, the outermostflanges and web of said bar defining an inverted generally channelshaped member encasing the remainder of said flanges.

4. A suspension bar as claimed in claim 3, wherein the flanges providedwith said flaps are contiguous and said flaps are separate from oneanother.

5. A suspension bar as claimed in claim 3, entirely made of corrugatedfibreboard.

6. A suspension :bar for supporting garment hangers in a garment box,said bar adapted to 'be supported by a pair of opposed side walls of agarment box, said bar made of corrugated fibreboard and constituted by aplurality of elongated flanges united along longitudinal fold lines byintervening elongated coextensive Webs, said flanges and Webs foldedabout said fold lines to form an exterior tubular envelope encasing andholding together the remaining flanges disposed therein, said webs andflanges extending in planes at an angle with respect to each other toconfer rigidity to said bar in both said planes, and flaps united tosaid flanges along transverse fold lines at each end of said bar, andfolded at substantially right angles to said bar to be oppositelydirected and lie in transverse plane with respect to said bar, said barreinforced by a rigid bar coextensive with said flanges, said rigid barextending in both said planes and in contact with at least one flangeand one web.

7. A suspension bar as claimed in claim 6, wherein the reinforcing barconsists of an angle iron.

8. A suspension bar as claimed in claim 6, wherein said reinforcing barconsists of a sheet metal channel member.

9. A suspension bar as claimed in claim 8, wherein said channel memberfits over the top and sides of said fibreboard bar and holds the sidestogether.

10. The combination of a fibreboard shipping container having verticalslits opening at the top edge of opposed'side walls thereof, with asuspension bar for garment hangers, said suspension bar constituted by aplurality of elongated flanges at least the end portions of at least twoof said flanges disposed in a substantially vertical plane, said flangesunited along longitudinal lines, and end sections united alongtransverse lines to said flanges at each end of said bar, said endportions of said two flanges inserted within said slits to extend to theexterior face of said side walls, said end sections applied against saidexterior face of said side walls in opposite directions on both sides ofsaid slits, said bar being devoid of any portion extending over the topedge of said side walls, whereby said bar is supported by said sidewalls in a plane below the top edges of said side walls.

11. The combination as claimed in claim 10, wherein said bar issupported by the bottom of said slits.

12. The combination of claim 10, further including a wing integrallyconnected to the top edge of each side wall and folded to form a channelmember having a slit made in the leg of said channel member next to saidside wall and registering with the slit of said side wall, said endsections extending within said channel member and resting on the bottomof said channel member.

13.The combination as claimed in claim 10, wherein said flanges includeflanges transversely spaced from the flanges provided with said flapsand intervening Webs uniting said flanges of said two groups of flangesto provide said bar with a thickness greater than the combined thicknessof the portions of the flaps extending through said slits.

14. The combination as claimed in claim 10, wherein said flanges includeflanges transversely spaced from the flanges provided with said flapsand intervening webs uniting said flanges of said two groups of flangesto provide said bar with a thickness greater than the combined thicknessof the portions of the flaps extending through said slits, the outermostflanges and interconnecting web of said bar defining an invertedgenerally channel shaped member encasing the remainder of said webs andflanges, said bar being made of fiberboard.

15. The combination as claimed in claim 10, wherein said bar is made ofsheet metal.

16. The combination of claim 10, wherein said bar is made of fiberboardand is reinforced by a rigid member coextensive with the flanges of saidbar.

17. The combination of claim 10, wherein said bar has a hanger hooklocking flap integrally united to the top of said bar and foldable overhanger hooks supported on said bar.

18. The combination as claimed in claim 13, wherein said bar is made offibreboard.

19. The combination as claimed in claim 16, wherein said rigid memberconsists of a channel sheet metal member.

20. The combination as claimed in claim 16, wherein said rigid memberconsists of an angle iron.

21. The combination as claimed in claim 16, wherein said rigid memberconsists of a solid bar of rectangular cross section.

22. The combination as claimed in claim 19, wherein said channel memberfits over the top and sides of said bar and holds said bar together.

23. The combination of a fiberboard shipping container having verticalslits opening at the top edge of opposite side walls thereof, with asuspension bar for garment hangers, said suspension bar constituted by aplurality of elongated flanges integrally united along longitudinal foldlines by intervening elongated coextensive webs, said flanges and websfolded about said fold lines to form an exterior tubular envelopeencasing and holding together the remaining flanges disposed therein,said Webs and flanges extending in planes at an angle with respect toeach other to confer rigidity to said bar in both said planes, at leasttwo of said flanges disposed in a substantially vertical plane, andflaps integrally united along transverse fold lines to said flanges ateach end of said bar, said two flanges inserted Within said slits toextend to the exterior face of said side walls, said flaps appliedagainst said exterior face of said side walls in opposite directions onboth sides of said slits, said bar being devoid of any portion extendingover the top edge of said walls, whereby said bar is supported by saidside walls in a plane below the top edges of said side walls.

24. A suspension bar for supporting garment hangers in a garment box,said bar adapted to be supported by a pair of opposed side walls of agarment box, said bar made of corrugated fibreboard and constituted by aplurality of elongated flanges united and folded along longitudinal foldlines, and flaps united to said flanges along transverse fold lines ateach end of said bar and folded at substantially right angles to saidbar to be oppositely directed and lie in a transverse plane with respectto said bar, said bar reinforced by a rigid channel member coextensivewith said flanges.

25. A suspension bar as claimed in claim 24, wherein said channel memberfits over the top and sides of said fiberboard bar and holds the sidestogether.

26. The combination of a fibreboard shipping container having verticalslits opening at the top edge of opposed side walls thereof, with asuspension bar for garment hangers, said bar made of fibreboard andconstituted by a plurality of elongated flanges at least two of whichare disposed in a substantially vertical plane, said flanges united andfolded along longitudinal fold lines, and flaps integrally united alongtransverse fold lines to said flanges at each end of said bar, said twovertical flanges inserted within said slits to extend to the exteriorface of said side walls, said flaps folded against said exterior face ofsaid side walls in opposite directions on both sides of said slits, saidbar being devoid of any portion extending over the top edge of said sidewalls whereby said bar is supported by said side walls in a plane belowthe top edges of said side walls, said bar being reinforced by a rigidchannel member coextensive with the flanges of said bar.

27. The combination as claimed in claim 26, wherein said channel memberfits over the top and sides of said bar and holds said bar together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,535,233 Ross Dec. 26, 1950 2,752,032 Fish June 26, 1956 2,770,357Sheard Nov. 13, 1956

